Sample case demonstrator



y 1955 c. w. MAYER, sR., "ET AL 2,707,538

SAMPLE CASE DEMONSTRATOR Filed June 16, 1953 IN V EN TORS y CHARLES W MAYER,Jr.

0p ATTYS United States Patent SAMPLE CASE DEMON STRATOR Charles W. Mayer, Sr., and Charles W. Mayer, Jr., Akron, Ohio Application June 16, 1953, Serial No. 362,064

Claims. (Cl. 190-46) This invention relates to improvements in articles of manufacture and has particular significance in connection with articles known to the art as salesmens sample cases and demonstrators.

Heretofore it has been known to have sample cases useful, for example, by traveling salesmen demonstrating various articles of commerce, but the prior art cases have had certain limitations For one thing, they are generally side hinged opening, that is opening upon a long side like a suit case. They are incapable of setting up a sample at eye height from the floor, and for this and other reasons are not capable of making a hard hitting sales appeal since they are primarily designed to carry rather than to display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide relatively simple and inexpensive means for overcoming the above-mentioned diificulties and to provide a sample case with integral support legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, sturdy attractive carrier and display case for samples of bulky items, such as storm windows.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a unitary device capable of displaying a product at eye level while at the same time carrying other items such as a printed sales story, order blanks, literature, photographs, etc., all in a single case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multipart frame in a sample case demonstrator where the parts of the frame can be locked in association in an open position so that a self-supporting display can be easily provided froma closed demonstrator case.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent and the invention will be better understood from consideration of the following description of a specific embodiment of the invention, although the invention itself is distinctly and particularly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part of this application. By way of example, a preferred embodiment of an improved sample case demonstrator and of improved parts thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective elevational view of a sample case demonstrator constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and shown in set-up position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the case of Fig. 1 shown in the closed or carrying position; and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the upper corners at the far end of Fig. 3 and corresponding to top and bottom corners of Fig. 1.

The present invention relates to a sample case demonstrator having three congruent hinged frame sections readily movable from a compact, closed position to an open easel-like position, and means for securing the frame sections in fixed relation when in open position.

The drawing shows a completed sample case demonstrator made in accordance with the invention and comprising three congruent rectangular frame members, which,

Patented May 3, 1955 in accordance with their location in the closed position view of Fig. 3, may be called a front frame, or front 10, an intermediate open-centered display frame 12, and a rear frame, or back 14. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the front and the back 14 are tray-like structures. At one end of the intermediate portion 12, the front 10 is hinged thereto by an elongate piano type hinge 16, and the back 14 is hinged to the other side of the same end by a piano type hinge 18. While other type hinges could be used instead, sturdy overall construction of the device is enhanced by the use of elongate piano type hinges with a large number of fastening screws 19. The hinges permit the principal members to be swung readily from the closed position shown in Fig. 3 to the open position shown in Fig. 1.

In the open (i. e., set-up) position of Fig. l, the front 10 and back 14 .form easel feet and the intermediate portion 12 extends thereabove holding a display, such as a miniature storm window 20, in full view from both front and rear. The display may be secured in the intermediate frame portion 12 in any desired manner. For this open position, the feet (i. e., structures 10 and 14) are held together at their ends opposite the hinged ends by a member such as a strap 22 which may be permanently secured to one of these principal members at one end of the strap and be removably secured to the other of the members at the other end by snap fasteners 24. In the set-up position of Fig. l, the strap biases the front and back frames together against their own resistance to movement and against a wedge-shaped stop member 26 fastened to the outside of the hinge bearing end of the intermediate frame portion 12 (see Fig. 2). The stop member 26 has a back side 27 which fits flat against the hinge end of the intermediate portion 12 and has tapered sides 28 and 29 which, for the open position of Fig. 1, fit fiat against the hinged ends of the front and back frames, the angles of incidence of the tapered sides of the stop with the back side, and the length of the strap 22, being so selected as to provide desired rigidity of the cooperating members for the device in the open position.

As previously stated, and as shown in the drawings, the front 10 and back 14 may be tray-like structures recessed to provide storage space therein. Thus the sample case may be readily used to carry things additional to the sample, for instance order blanks, tape measure, literature, photographs, small samples, etc. As illustrated in Fig. l, I have shown a literature pouch 3t and sample segments 32, 33, 34 and 35 of aluminum or other types of frames for the storm window being sold. Such segments 32 through 35 are shown held in place by elastic straps 36 or other members so that the samples can easily be removed to show a prospect features of the product.

Whether the outer frames 10 and 14 are tray-like or merely flat pieces, they are readily adaptable to carry a trade-name, or sales message as indicated in Fig. l at XYZ, and may also be used to carry drawings or photographs showing such things as a room before and after installation of storm windows for reminding the prospect just what the displayed product can do for him. Thus, the easel feet (i. e., the front and back frames) readily lend themselves to many presentations additional to that of the sample thereabove.

The principal frames for the sample case demonstrator may be made of wood or any other suitablematerial, and may of course be covered with a fabric such as leather or imitation leather, and provided with metallic corner pieces 33 at the corners of the device when closed. Advertising data of any desired form may be provided on the outer surfaces of the front frame 10 and rear frame 14. At the end opposite the hinge end snap clasps 40 are provided for holding the sample case in a closed position and the intermediate portion 12'is shown provided with a handle 42 for carrying purposes. For such carrying, the strap 22 is unsnapped from one frame member and folded into the depression of the other of the frame members.

in a modification of the invention, leg locks such as are used on folding bridge tables and the like could be provided on the intermediate frame 12 to engage the front and back frames and secure them in opened positions for support action, if desired in place of the stop 26. Thus the components of the display would be locked in desired operative relation by means that could fold or swing into the demonstrator when not in use.

The improved sample case of the invention folds up into a more or less conventional appearing type case, yet has the advantage of providing an eye level display for a prospect seated at a desk without any dependence upon the prospect providing clear desk or table space in his office or home. The salesman can demonstrate his product from a standing position, and the prospect from a seated position can easily visualize the product. Sample case,

brief case and sales story are all contained in one case so that a very effective sales aid is provided, and this sales aid is capable of making a very effective demonstration of many types of products, storm sash, conventional windows, doors, or siding material being mentioned as merely illustrativc.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various modifications may obviously be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which is intended to be defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, the combination of congruent rectangular shaped front and back trays and a congruent intermediate display holding frame, hinge means joining one end of the frame with one end of the front tray, hinge means connecting the same end of the frame with one end of the back tray, and a wedge-shaped stop fixedly fastened to the hinged end of the intermediate frame for contact with the trays for defining the limits of travel of the trays with respect to the frame in open position.

2. As an article of manufacture, the combination of congruent rectangular shaped front and back trays and a congruent intermediate display holding frame, hinge means joining one end of the frame with one end of the front tray, hinge means connecting the same end of the frame with one end of the back tray, a wedge-shaped stop fastened to the hinged end of the intermediate frame for defining the limits of travel of trays with respect to frame in open position, and a removable strap adapted to have its ends secured to ends of the trays opposite the hinged ends thereof to hold the trays against the stop, whereby there is provided a display case readily convertible from a closed position for carrying to an open position at which the trays 4 form easel legs and the intermediate frame extends thereabove for displaying a sample at a suitable height.

3. As an article of manufacture, the combination as in claim 2 further characterized by the provision of closing clasps at the tray and display holding frame ends opposite the hinged ends for securing the trays and frame together for the carrying position, a carrying handle attached along one edge of the frame, and corner metal protectors for the outside corners of the trays when the article is in closed position.

4. An article of mantifacture comprising a front frame, an intermediate frame for receiving a display therein, a back frame, hinge means connecting said front frame and said intermediate frame at one edge of such intermediate frame, hinge means at the same edge of such intermediate frame connecting said back frame and said intermediate frame, said front frame and said back frame being pivotal towards each other from superimposed positions on said intermediate frame, abutment means fixedly positioned on one of said frames for simultaneous contact with all the other frames for limiting pivotal movement of said front and rear frames towards each other when opening the article for display purposes, said front and back frames being movable towards each other and away from said intermediate frame to provide support legs for said intermediate frame, and means provided to extend between said front and back frames for securing them in open position to prevent separation movement thereof. and to hold at least one of said frames in contact with said abutment means.

5. An article of manufacture comprising a front frame, an intermediate frame, a back frame, hinge means connecting said front frame and said intermediate frame at one edge of said intermediate frame, hinge means at the same edge of said intermediate frame connecting said back frame and said intermediate frame, said front frame and said back frame being pivotal towards each other from superposed positions on said intermediate frame, and rigid common abutment means fixedly positioned on one of said frames adjacent the hinge means, for simultaneous contact with the other frames for limiting pivotal movement of said front and rear frames toward each other, when opening the article for display purposes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,227 Moog Mar. 8, 1904 1,035,648 Small Aug. 13, 1912 1,235,097 Berg July 31, 1917 1,448,659 Goodman et al Mar. 13, 1923 2,405,955 Hunt Aug. 20, 1946 2,481,106 Gold Sept. 6, 1949 

